DOWNLOAD OF THE WEEK: BLACKLISTED INDIVIDUALS

Snyp and Da’Shade from Austin’s Blacklisted Individuals have been making insightful hip-hop since 1998. While many hail Lil’ Wayne as the ambassador of Southern Hip-Hop, Blacklisted Individuals forgo over-the-top production and egotistical antics by offering socially conscious lyrics and catchy beats to compliment their poetic flow. This week’s free track is a great slow jam called “Fist Full of Strife,” which topped the alternative hip hop rankings for June. The group’s community-centric values emanate through an infectious sing-a-long chorus that demands you to clap your hands from start to finish. The song perfectly illustrates the duo’s dedication to shedding light on “the triumphs and tragedies that surround the struggle of our everyday lives” through their music. Get Blacklisted and let yourself be enlightened.